WEST ROXBURY TO NEEDHAM RELIABILITY PROJECT

This construction project will improve the transmission system in the Boston area so customers will have reliable power to meet their growing energy needs.

At Eversource, we're proud to serve the neighborhoods where we work and live. For the West Roxbury to Needham Reliability Project, our crews are working to separate the overhead transmission lines on existing double-circuit towers on the right of way (power line corridor) between substations in the Boston neighborhood of West Roxbury and Needham, Mass.

The project route crosses about 4.5 miles between the Baker Street Substation in West Roxbury and the Needham Substation in Needham. The separation work involves relocating 1.6 miles of the line onto new sets of structures on the rights of way in Boston, Dedham and Needham.

In Needham, the newly separated line exits the overhead right of way on Valley Road and transitions to underground. The underground line will then extend about 3 miles from Valley Road to Needham Substation.

* Click to Enlarge

Project Facts:

Route length: Approximately 4.5 miles

Towns: Boston, Dedham, and Needham, Mass.

Line voltage: 115,000-volt (115-kV) overhead and underground transmission line

Siting review by: Energy Facilities Siting Board (EFSB)

Petition filing: June 2016

Petition approval by the EFSB: May 17, 2018

Start of construction: June 2018

Estimated Timetable (subject to change):

Estimated in-service date: Second quarter 2020

ENERGY FACILITIES SITING BOARD (EFSB)

For an electric transmission line project, such as the West Roxbury to Needham Reliability Project, the Massachusetts Energy Facilities Siting Board (EFSB) Petition filing is part of the siting regulatory review process, as defined by Massachusetts state statutes.

Construction Updates

First, please know that Eversource takes every safety precaution while working in local communities, and that all people working on the construction project carry identification.

Eversource is committed to updating neighbors, businesses and the community about project activities, especially during construction. Public outreach and consultation with municipal authorities is ongoing throughout the project.

Please note that the project work will not interrupt electric service to homes or businesses.

Project construction began in June 2018 and is expected to be complete in October 2019.

Work hours during construction will typically be 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays in non-residential areas. During the school year, work requiring detours along a school bus route will not start until 9 a.m. Due to unexpected weather or other circumstances, the work hours may be extended or performed on a Sunday.

Police officers will be stationed at every major intersection where construction is taking place.

On High Rock Street between Richardson Drive and Emerson Road, crews continued to install duct bank, which houses electric cable. The road will be closed and there will be a detour in place during working hours.

On South Street between Dedham Avenue and Livingston Circle, crews began installing a manhole, a precast concrete vault.

On Great Plain Avenue between South Street and Greendale Avenue, crews continued to excavate and install duct bank. One lane was closed, resulting in alternating traffic patterns.

On Peacedale Road between Sterling Road and Intervale Road, crews continued to install duct bank, which houses electric cable. The road was closed except to local traffic.

Week of September 16, 2019:

On High Rock Street between Richardson Drive and Emerson Road, crews will continue to install duct bank, which houses electric cable. The road will be closed and there will be a detour in place during working hours.

On Great Plain Avenue between South Street and Greendale Avenue, crews will continue to excavate and install duct bank. There will be one lane closed, resulting in alternating traffic patterns.

On Peacedale Road between Sterling Road and Intervale Road, crews will continue to install duct bank, which houses electric cable. The road will be closed except to local traffic.

On South Street between Dedham Avenue and Livingston Circle, crews will continue to install a manhole, a precast concrete vault. The road will be closed and there will be a detour during working hours.

TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PLANS

Working in consultation with town and state officials, including the Mass. Department of Transportation (MassDOT), Eversource has developed a set of Traffic Management Plans (TMPs) for each section of the West Roxbury to Needham Reliability Project.

The TMPs include conditions specific to routing as made by the EFSB in its final decision. The TMPs illustrate detailed site plans, showing underground line locations, hours of construction, area-specific traffic controls, and more.